ANIMAL lovers are warning of the dangers of a fast spreading toxic weed which can be deadly to horses and which is even harmful to humans.

Ragwort, which has bright yellow flowers, can cause liver damage if ingested by grazing animals, posing a deadly threat to the area’s horses and ponies. And experts warn that the weed can even cause damage to liver cells to anyone just touching the plant

Banks horse-owner Donna Cumia, who has 12 horses and runs Foxgill Stables, warned of the dangers: “The toxins pass from the gut direct to the liver, where they destroy cells until there are too little left to carry out vital functions, but it’s not immediate, it’s a slow acting poison.”

The British Horse Society believes up to 6,500 horses die every year from Ragwort poisoning.

Stable yard owner Donna, 37, of Lawson Street, said: “The ragwort has exploded this year, maybe because of the warm, wet weather. There is so much of it around if you go out towards the Kew area, and there is lots of it in Banks, Hesketh Bank, Tarleton. It’s certainly something home-owners should look out for.

“There are two stages of ragwort, its rosette stage when it has just started to grow, and then it grows and produces the yellow flowers.”

Horse-owners will spend hours pulling the plants from grazing paddocks, but they are also putting themselves at risk.

The mother-of-two said: “A lot of people don’t know the plant’s toxins can penetrate the skin, then the poison begins damaging liver cells leading to cirrhosis.

“I don’t let my children near it. It’s important people wear gloves and use a ragfork that digs the plant out from the root.

“It’s an awful problem – land- owners have a responsibility to keep on top of it otherwise it spreads so easily.”

Delia Hargreaves of Arnside Road, Southport, was so concerned about the threat to the local horse population, she wrote to Dukes ward councillor Les Byrom.

She said: “I have been disturbed about the ever increasing growth of ragwort in fields near Town Lane, Miss Road and in the Shirdley Hill area.”

Cllr Byrom said it should be given awareness: “I am sure this would be of great concern to many people. This is more of an issue for landowners and animal owners.”